Massage wheel

ABSTRACT

A massage wheel consisting of a cylinder having a plurality of prongs protruding from its circumference to which is attached an axle on either end which serve as handle grips for manipulation of the wheel over the body surface for massage purposes.

United States Patent ONeil 41 MASSAGE WHEEL [72] Inventor: John J. ONeil, 513 West Ninth Place,

Mesa, Ariz. 85201 [22] Filed: June 15, 1970 2: Appl. No.: 45,997

[52] US. Cl. 128/57 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lh 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..l28/24.3, 57

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,221,785 11/1940 Douglas ..l28/57 [451 May 23,1972

3,037,500 6/1962 Daugherty 128/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 246,447 4/1926 Italy 128/57 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attomey-Warren F. B. Lindsley ABSTRACT A massage wheel consisting of a cylinder having a plurality of prongs protruding from its circumference to which is attached an axle on either end which serve as handle grips for manipulation of the wheel over the body surface for massage purposes.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnma I972 3.664334 INVENTOR. JOHN J. ouau.

m/ww ATTORNEY MASSAGE WHEEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a massage unit and is particularly directed to a device operable over the body surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention This invention is particularly directed to a massage unit having means for massaging the surface of the body with a plurality of protruding prongs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, massage devices were characterized by the use of a single wheel limited to floor operation as an exerciser but were not satisfactory for body massage because the single wheel did not properly and comfortably fit the body contours for massage operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a massage device which when used on the flesh of the human body will completely yet gently knead and subject to substantially the same movement that is imparted to the flesh by the fingers of a professional masseur.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved massage device which is simple to manufacture, durable, and efficient in operation and of such a construction that it can be readily used by the person whose body is to be massaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved massage device which greatly multiplies the kneading possible by the finger movement of a professional masseur.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved massage device in which a roller of considerable length made of firm or resilient material is provided with a plurality of individual prongs for massaging repetitive areas of the body over which the user rolls the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a combined floor exerciser and body massage unit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiprong massage device adapted to roll over the back, legs, and other parts of the body stimulating and massaging by the prongs of the device the nerves to all organs, glands and tissues of the body.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiprong massager of the same or different prong diameters so arranged that a person may vigorously, or according to his own strength or health, massage his own body thus materially increasing his own circulation in a few minutes of use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterizes this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-prong massage device and employing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2 2; and

FIG. 3 is a view showing the device being used to massage the leg of a user.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses a multi prong exerciser and massage device 10 comprising a pair of rollers or heels 11 and 12 separated by a long cylindrical hub 13 which is secured thereto for rotation therewith. The outside surfaces of each wheel is provided with a bore for each receiving a handle grip 14. The handle grips rotate axially relative to the rotation of the wheels 11 and 12 and hub 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 3 the long cylindrical hub 13 is provided with rows of spacedly positioned prongs 16 which may be of like or different diameters and lengths. s shown the diameters and lengths are substantially identical and produce a convex outline with each prong being secured to the outer circumference of the hub. If desired the hub and or hub and wheels may be molded of one material with the prongs separable from the hub and comprised of rigid or resilient material. The prongs may be provided with soft resilient caps 17 if they are too firm for the skin of the user, as shown on two of the prongs of FIG. 3.

Although the prongs are shown in rows along the longitudinal axis of hub 13 they may be randomly spaced in any manner along the surface of the hub as desired.

The user may massage himself in a number of ways.

One, by his own movement of the device along parts of his body, and

Two, by body friction of the pronged device as the body moves over the device. This may be accomplished by placing the device 10 in a fixture for holding the hand grips and moving parts of the body such as the flats of the feet over the rotatable hub 13.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-prong massage device comprising in combination:

a pair of spaced axially disposed wheels,

a cylindrical hub arranged to extend between said wheels and fixedly attached to each wheel,

a handle grip rotatably attached axially to each of said wheels, said wheels and said hub being rotated as a unit relative to each of the handle grips,

a plurality of rigid prongs arranged along the circumference of said hub,

said prongs being of a shorter length than the radii of said wheels and arranged in rows spaced longitudinally of said hub, and g a plurality of resilient caps mounted on the ends of at least some of said prongs at their free ends for stimulating the nerves of the body when kneaded by said device.

2. The multi-prong massage device set forth in claim 1 wherein said hub has a convex outer surface and said prongs are all of the same length, thereby causing the free ends of said prongs to provide a convex configuration between said pair of axially disposed wheels. 

1. A multi-prong massage device comprising in combination: a pair of spaced axially disposed wheels, a cylindrical hub arranged to extend between said wheels and fixedly attached to each wheel, a handle grip rotatably attached axially to each of said wheels, said wheels and said hub being rotated as a unit relative to each of the handle grips, a plurality of rigid prongs arranged along the circumference of said hub, said prongs being of a shorter length than the radii of said wheels and arranged in rows spaced longitudinally of said hub, and a plurality of resilient caps mounted on the ends of at least some of said prongs at their free ends for stimulating the nerves of the body when kneaded by said device.
 2. The multi-prong massage device set forth in claim 1 wherein said hub has a convex outer surface and said prongs are all of the same length, thereby causing the free ends of said prongs to provide a convex configuration between said pair of axially disposed wheels. 